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This one’s a slightly longer show, which has been delayed in file malfunction hell for a while. We didn’t want to give up on it, though, so here it is, finally – our DunDraCon 2009 show. We’ll get back into our twice-monthly show pattern as quick as we can.

As per our new format, we hit the Gaming News Update first (1:02), and hear of the Konami/Upper Deck disagreement over Yu-Gi-Oh, three card game expansions coming from Atlas Games, Free RPG Day 2009, and Green Ronin’s A Song of Ice and Fire arriving in stores after a slight delay. (If you want your gaming news in bite-sized podcast form, along with occasional industry interviews and stories, check out the OgreCave Gaming News Update page at http://www.ogrecave.com/newsupdate ).

After brief discussion at (4:56) of CCGs in general, we turn to DunDraCon 2009, which Allan attended. (7:45) After describing the show at bit to set the stage, we have a silly segment showing two different ways gamers might handle Valentine’s Day, which hit during the con once again. (11:34; the wind kicks up for a sec here – sorry about that) After that bit of nonsense, we talk to Aldo Ghiozzi of Impressions about Free RPG Day 2009, coming June 20 (14:30), and we discuss what gamers should expect from the event. (22:00)

Then we have a lengthy (!) interview with Joseph Goodman (Goodman Games), Steve Chenault (Troll Lord Games), and Aaron “Blackdirge” Rudel (Blackdirge Publishing/Goodman Games). (25:25) This is an interview in the tradition of our previous “GoodLord Games” interviews, so buckle up and hang on. From Goodman’s Level Up and Mafia-inspired city of Punjar, to Troll Lord’s recently expanded Crusader Magazine and its Harvesters RPG, to Blackdirge’s 4e critter products, we ramble through all sorts of things.

After the interview, we briefly discuss print magazines (at 1:00:40), and then Mike reveals that he’s getting rid of certain games because he never gets to play them. Then at (1:05:05) we arrive at Currently Playing: Allan got into some Monster Mash-Up, Run for Your Life, Candyman, Princess Bride: Storming the Castle, Hey, That’s My Fish, 10 Days in Asia, Blokus, Faerie’s Tale, RoboRally, and Primordeal Soup, plus his usual weekly D&D campaign and Tomb Raider: Underworld. Mike has played more Little Big Planet, Rock Band, and tried out The Space Game.

As always, we welcome your thoughts on this stuff. Deposit all comments here (http://ogrecave.com/2009/06/04/audio-report-rumors-of-demise-are-highly-exaggerated/ for those of you reading this on iTunes).

(53:15) Mike thought Agricola (Z-Man Games) had far too many pieces, but had no problem with Power Grid (Rio Grande). He also played Kill Doctor Lucky (Cheapass Games), Carcassonne (Rio Grande), and the RPG Dirty Secrets (Dark Omen Games). Mike talks briefly about World War 5 (Looney Labs), which is now fully reviewed in OgreCave’s review section (http://www.ogrecave.com/reviews).

We end with rambling talk of gifts received, and foreshadow our upcoming gaming challenge. Be sure to check out our eighth annual OgreCave Christmas Gift Guide, and fill in your collection with a few belated gifts to yourself.

Deposit all comments here (http://ogrecave.com/2009/03/08/audio-report-lists-and-holidays/#comments for those of you reading this on iTunes).

We’re getting caught up after some computer issues and work related delays, but we’re back on track, so here’s the first of two refugee shows from 2008. Expect an ad or two this show – you have been warned. Some highlights we managed to hit for this episode were:

(1:06) Our first discussion of the closure of WizKids, prior to the Catalyst/Piñata bids.

(6:59) Upper Deck’s second layoff of 2008, on the same day the World of Warcraft Miniatures Game released.

(8:36) Our initial thoughts on the WOW Miniatures Game. Mike draws rules comparison to Car Wars, of all things. Then we talk about several concerns we have for the product’s potential success.

(20:29) Allan brings up the Gen Con/Lucasfilm lawsuit news (it’s been dropped), and the Gen Con charity auction mix-up with the Christian Children’s Fund. Boy, someone at CCF dropped the ball on that one.

(24:06) Some random thoughts on how the industry is gearing up for the final sales push of 2008. Get in the black, or go home!

(27:11) Currently Playing begins. Allan starts with Monty Python Fluxx (Looney Labs), and general Fluxx discussion ensues. This brings us to a mention of We Didn’t Playtest This At All, and to wondering if a board game equivalent to Fluxx exists. Allan also had his Halloween session of D&D 3.5, and played the demo for Penny Arcade: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness.

(35:45) Having already mentioned 3:16, Mike admits to playing copious amounts of Katamari Damasi and We Love Katamari, as well as World of Goo, and the Magic: The Gathering-like game Spectromancer. With his game group, Mike also got into some Looping Louie, Tannhauser, and others.

(40:03) Mike squeezes in some quick thoughts on this year’s Games 100 list. We make fun of its categories, which, admittedly, we have no right to do. This morphs into discussion/lamentation of the state of game magazine publishing, with even online magazine Pyramid having to make adjustments.

(44:05) Not content to end there, we talk a bit about what we’re looking forward to. Allan’s hoping to get into some Okko, Senji, and Tomb Raider: Underworld, and still struggles to find willing players for the Maid RPG. Mike’s looking to try some Dirty Secrets, talks about A Flower for Mara, and things degenerate into silliness from there. Mike makes claims that there are no Christmas-themed games, forcing Allan to school him with past reviews from OgreCave’s review section (http://www.ogrecave.com/reviews).

Then a quick word from RPGnow and their March Fourth for GM’s Day promotion. Check out the cool deals, and pick up something for your GM to inflict upon you.

In this Halloween-ish episode, miniatures seem to dominate our thoughts. At (2:45), we talk about the recent news that D&D Miniatures will be less randomized and no longer support the skirmish combat game. We discuss what this means for gamers, and for Wizards of the Coast.

Then after talking generally about miniatures games (13:10), we make an initial attempt to define what we feel a cross-training gamer should have on hand – starting with the miniatures category and its various subdivisions. (15:57) At (22:07) we try to clear up where big boardgames like Descent and StarCraft would fit in, category-wise.

In other news, Mike’s interested in the Epic Adventures and Battle Maps scenario packs for BattleLore and Memoir 44, respectively. (29:17) Then we try to bring things around to spooky games: both Super Genius Games and Goodman Games are working on licensed Call of Cthulhu adventures; Do You Worship Cthulhu? (Toy Vault) and The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow (Asmodée) have both crossed our paths lately (34:20); Mike mentions Hunter: The Vigil (White Wolf) along with a vague notion that he should go pick up Changeling. (35:54)

Currently Playing gets underway at (37:14) – Allan’s played Let’s Kill! (the Sancho Games version), then provides a quick review of The Haunting House (Twilight Creations). Okko: Era of the Asagiri (Asmodée) is mentioned (41:55), as well as the long-extinct Gregory Horror Show Game. At (44:33) he wraps his side of Currently Playing with a few preliminary comments on Monty Python Fluxx (Looney Labs) (full review to follow soon), and has plans for a nasty Halloween D&D session.

At (49:25) Mike has played ThunderRoad (Milton Bradley; OgreCave mascot game), talks a bit about 3:16 – Carnage Amongst the Stars (BoxNinja). He also mentions a game he’s playtesting, Misery Bubblegum (Muse of Fire Games), and is getting excited about Superstruct. (52:46)

We finish at (55:03) with a few bits of business. First, a mention of the Screams from the Cave event, which includes OgreCave’s Random Encounter interview with Harley Stroh of Goodman Games about the upcoming Age of Cthulhu line. Then a reminder that listeners did indeed win prizes in last month’s podcast contest – see the winner list we announced at this link, and thanks for joining in the fun.

Note: Listen carefully during this OgreCave Audio Report episode, and learn how to participate in the multi-podcast Secret Codes Contest (see below).

Our third annual Ogre’s Choice Awards stumble in and sit on all the fragile antique furniture. As always, we cover a wide range of categories, some with surprises, and we take no prisoners. The official 2008 Ogre’s Choice Award page is available for those who want to play along at home.

After the awards, we get into Currently Playing: Mike has played A Touch of Evil (Flying Frog), Tomb (AEG), We Didn’t Playtest This at All (Asmadi Games), OgreCave’s mascot game ThunderRoad (Milton Bradley), and did some initial fiddling with Monsterpocalypse (Privateer Press). Other than the weekly D&D 3.5 campaign, Steve may be running his Cyberpunk group soon. Allan got into some Facts in Five (University Games), Agricola (Z-Man Games), and Jungle Speed (Asmodée), plus the weekly D&D game.

Now, about the Secret Codes Contest: OgreCave has joined forces with four other gaming podcasts to form Voltron – wait, it’s actually to offer up $250 of free game goodies. Listen carefully to find out how you can participate – the details are in this show, somewhere. We made sure to enunciate.